Sick eye...need advice!

[Ranchero]

I'm a newbie to backyard chickens. I have only had my girls for a month and one of my Americauna's eyes started looking sick last week and within a day or so a pea-sized lump appeared under her eye. I've been treating with an ophthalmic ointment (neomycin and polymyxin b sulfates, bacitracin zinc and hydrocortisone) that I had leftover from one of my dogs. Today I noticed some discharge (there had not been any before) and she does appear to be able to open it a little bit. I can not tell for certain if the lump is filled with fluid but, I'm guessing it is. Her beak is not closing properly but, she is able to eat and drink and is otherwise acting normally. I have not observed the others pecking at her but, it's definitely a possibility, although, I don't see an external injury. The other pullets are all acting normally and appear healthy. Ideas on what this could be? More importantly, how to treat going forward?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Ranchero Welcome To BYC

You mention that she has a discharge from the eye - is it pus, watery, bubbly, etc.?
Any mucous, coughing, sneezing?
Are both eyes swollen or just the one?

It looks like she has a cross or scissor beak - watch to see that she can eat/drink o.k.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/03/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it.html

General care for the eyes is flushing out really well with saline or sterile water - gently open the eye and remove any pus/discharge that you see. Apply your eye ointment. Her sinus is swollen as well, so look inside her beak to see if there is anything in the chonal slit (see this link) http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1074036/sinus-infections

There are many causes of eye infection - a scratch/peck/injury to the eye, getting dirt or a foreign object stuck in there, poor ventilation in housing and respiratory disease are just a few. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
Antibiotics may help, but if there is pus in the eye or sinus, it will have to be removed in order for it to start healing. If you have vet care, that is always best. injectable Tylan50 is helpful with secondary infections due to respiratory illness. It can be given orally or by injection - dosage is .20ml per 1lb of weigh given 2X per day.

See that she is drinking well, poultry vitamins added to the water is helpful as well.
Since she is new to you - check her over very well for any lice/mites - if you find any, then treat her with a Permethrin based poultry spray or dust.

 

[Ranchero]

Thanks for the thorough reply. This is effecting only one side of her face. The discharge is cloudy and appears in the shape of a teardrop. I will flush out her eye and chonal slit this afternoon. I have seen her eat and drink and have not observed any sneezing or other signs of respiratory illness.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Wyorp Rock has given excellent advice. Do you notice a bad odor around her face? Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) or infectious coryza could be possible causes, but we usually like to rule out a peck wound, an insect sting, a foreign body, or a tumor when there is that kind of facial swelling. With respiratory diseases, the swelling of only one side of the face can be common, but it can spread to the other. Nasal discharge, labored breathing or gasping, head shaking to loosen mucus plugs in the airway, and noisy breathing or coughing can all be other signs of a respiratory sinus infection. Sometimes if there is solid pus in the eye or sinus, it needs to be removed.